News From the Archdiocese of Birmingham

Pray for our Religious as we mark Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord

Reflection

This weekend on Sunday we keep the feast of Candlemas, the Presentation of the Lord, marking that moment when the infant Jesus was taken by his parents to the temple, and Simeon and Anna, despite their age and infirmities rejoiced with childlike simplicity at the mystery unfolding before their eyes.

Perhaps the remarkable thing to reflect upon is that almost certainly on that day years ago there were many people milling in and around the temple, other parents, priests and faithful alike. Yet it was the weakness of years, the frailty resulting from a lifetime of challenge and the quiet faithfulness of Simeon and Anna that meant that whilst many were there on that day, only this unnoticed duo were able to rejoice and recognise that God was doing something new.

Since 1997 across the world the weekend closest to Candlemas has been a day of celebration and prayer for our religious and those living a consecrated life. Indeed religious from across our diocese will gather at our cathedral this weekend, rejoicing in the faithfulness of those celebrating jubilees as we join the Archbishop for Mass, a lunch and a talk by Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe.

Perhaps Candlemas reminds us of the gift that religious life is to our church, like Simeon and Anna, often unseen, contemplatively holding us in prayer, unnoticed, and lets be honest elderly and frail in parts, and yet the beating heart of the church often with a joyfulness that is an encouragement to us all.

Pray this weekend for our religious in thanksgiving for their witness. Pray that all of us may have the faithfulness and humility of Simeon and Anna, which enables us to rejoice with their childlike simplicity on this day.

Canon Gary Buckby, Parish Priest and Episcopal Vicar for Religious

Photograph: 2024 Mass for Religious

How are you celebrating the Jubilee Year 2025?

What are you doing in your parish, school, community to celebrate the Jubilee? We want to know.

Please let the Communications Team know so we can publicise your celebrations and share stories and photographs.

There’s also a diocesan Jubilee calendar we can add to here

Please feel free to contact us via communications@rcaob.org.uk

New video series explores the Jubilee themes

In the first episode of a new video series exploring the Jubilee themes, Fr Rob Taylerson focuses on Care for Creation.

Hear how he 'wanted to help feed the world' and advises 'our lives must be simplified'.

Available to watch now on our website.

Competition deadline looming. Schools enter now!

There's just a week to go for entries to the Columban Jubilee Competition for Secondary Schools.

On the theme, ‘Jubilee: Pilgrims of Hope’, this year’s competition welcomes both written and image entries until Friday 7 February, with winners being announced on Monday 10 March.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entrants and the first prize is an impressive £300.

Encouraging creativity and faith engagement with issues in the world today, the competition is aimed at students aged between 13-18 years old.

Harvington History Festival - Exploding the Myths tickets available now.

Wednesday 23 - Sunday 27 July, Harvington Hall, Worcestershire.

Back for its third year and bigger than ever, the Harvington History Festival 2025 promises an extraordinary week of fascinating talks, lively discussions and captivating performances.

Tickets now on sale.

Could you befriend a refugee?

Restore, a project of Birmingham Churches Together, are currently recruiting new volunteer befrienders.

Their next training course is on Saturday 8 February in Harborne, Birmingham.

New volunteers would be matched to a refugee to offer welcome, support, conversational English practice and friendship. This course is necessary for all volunteer befrienders.

If you’re not yet sure about befriending, please come along to find out more. There is no obligation to volunteer at the end.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Birmingham Lourdes Hospitalité warmly invites you to a special Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Saturday 8 February, at 4.30pm, St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham.

This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together in prayer, honour Our Lady, and seek her intercession for the sick and their carers.

Refreshments will be served after Mass.

Online Academic Forum

Wednesday 19 February, 6pm

St John Henry Newman Research Centre for Catholic Theology Presents:

The Rights of the Indigenous People in New Spain by Dr Pablo Irizar.

In this presentation, Dr Irizar discusses the contributions of Bartolomé de las Casas and the early Guadalupe accounts to the formal abolition of slavery and the champion of the rights of the indigenous people in New Spain at the turn of the 16th century. This debate was a precursor to the concept of international law and has broader implications for immigration and Catholic Social Teaching.

Readings for Funerals and Weddings

Parish Priest Fr Allen Morris has compiled two new guides extracting the readings from the Lectionary for Marriage and for Funerals.

With the publication of the new edition of the Lectionary (last December) many of the resources used to help the faithful select from the Scripture reading provided by the Church for funerals and marriage liturgies are now out of date.

Annual Report and Financial Overview 2023

You can now access the latest Annual Report and Overview documents for the Archdiocese of Birmingham on the diocesan website.

The documents are available to download and print if you wish.

Retreats at Rachel's Vineyard

Friday 14 - Sunday 16 February

Four retreats are taking place in the geographical area of the Archdiocese of Birmingham this year (venues disclosed at registration stage).

Archbishop Bernard Longley is the charity's patron.

Rachel's Vineyard supports those to heal from the trauma of abortion through a weekend retreat.

Special Needs Mass

Sunday 23 February and 23 March. Our Lady and St Brigid Church, Northfield.

An adapted Mass with Holy Communion for those with additional needs, and their carers and families.

4-4.30pm with refreshments afterwards.

Online course: Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

Please register by Friday 14 February

This programme for parish staff and volunteers will be spread over five one-hour Zoom sessions on each Tuesday in March and on 1 April 2025.

The course is aimed at parishioners who are not so familiar with Catholic Social Teaching, or who would welcome a refresh. We will also be hearing from CSAN members who work on the front line of poverty and exclusion, bringing our theoretical discussions to life.

Introduction to voluntary Workplace Chaplaincy

Two-day course, March and April, Sutton Coldfield.

Are you called to serve God in your local community or workplace?

This course is intended for people who are interested in exploring workplace chaplaincy as an outworking of their faith life. It introduces some of the core themes and requirements to be a workplace chaplain and provides useful information and support to equip them.

Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage - register now

Are you celebrating a significant wedding anniversary in 2025? Are you engaged to be married this year? Or would you simply like to give thanks to God for your marriage, and ask for His ongoing blessings?

If so, we would like to invite you to attend this year's Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage.

To be held on Saturday 3 May, 12noon, at St Chad's Cathedral. Celebrated by Bishop Richard Walker.

Please register by Sunday 13 April.

Save the Date - FHC Fundraising Ball

Father Hudson's Caritas will host its annual event on Saturday 15 March.

Dance the night away and help raise money for a great cause.

The Ball will take place at St Johns Hotel, Solihull, 7pm for 7.40pm. Black Tie preferred.

Individual tickets are £55 each which includes a three-course dinner and dancing to the wonderful Movida.

Jobs and Volunteering

Opportunities with the Archdiocese and other organisations

COO and CFO roles for the St Gabriel the Archangel CMAT

The Archdiocese of Birmingham invite applications for the new COO and CFO (two roles) of the first enlarged Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in the Archdiocese, the St Gabriel the Archangel CMAT.

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to commence May 2025.

We are seeking outstanding, dynamic, and visionary candidates to guide our new Trust of 63 schools, opening in September 2025.

Application deadline is Monday 10 February.

Independent Council Member, Birmingham Newman University

Are you willing to gift your time, skills and expertise to improving the life chances of others through education?

Do you want to gain board level experience, or use the experience you already have at this level, in a collaborative and inclusive community that creates opportunities for all?

If yes, consider joining the Birmingham Newman University Council (its governing body) as an independent member.

Various roles at Father Hudson's Caritas including:
Senior Care Leader
Foster Carers
Relief Support Worker

Workplace Chaplaincy Training course. Starts in February in Warwick.

Do you have a few hours to spare each week? Are you looking for a way to volunteer in the community? Are you, or your church, looking for a way to share the love of Jesus beyond its walls?

WorkCare West Midlands (WWM) is an ecumenical Christian charity which trains, places and supports voluntary workplace chaplains throughout Coventry, Warwickshire, Birmingham and Solihull, often in partnership with local church outreach programmes.

Director / Chief Executive Officer - Catholic Care (Caritas Leeds)

We are seeking to appoint a values-inspired and visionary leader who can shape our charity and deliver in its mission to support adults, children and families in need across a diverse range of services.

Visit website for full details

Online event hosted by the National Justice and Peace Network

Opening the Doors to Freedom from Human Trafficking, Thursday 6 February, 7pm - 8.30pm.

With - Brian O'Toole, who is a member of the National Justice and Peace Network (NJPN), Act to Prevent Trafficking (APT Ireland) and the Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking in Europe (RENATE) and Talitha Kum.

Invitation: Roundtable on Investing in Climate Solutions

Tuesday 18 February, Southwark

Christian charity Operation Noah will host an informative and engaging roundtable event on investing in climate solutions.

This event will feature an introduction to a toolkit aligning investment strategies with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and presentations from guest speakers on the intersection of faith, finance and climate action.

There will also be networking opportunities with other faith-based investors and trustees.

Word on Fire: The Bible. Evangelisation and Culture Conference, London

Friday 21 - Saturday 22 February, ExCel London.

Join Bishop Barron, N.T. Wright, Professor Tracey Rowland, Dr Holly Ordway and more in February 2025 at Word on Fire's Evangelisation & Culture Conference in London.

The Bible is the heart of evangelisation. As St Jerome observed long ago, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

At this conference, we will uncover the spiritual and theological meaning of the Bible from a genuinely Catholic approach, reading it within the context of the great and beautiful chorus of voices from across the centuries of the Church’s tradition.

Experiencing marriage difficulty? Help is at hand.

Retrouvaille is a Catholic ministry for marriages in difficulty. We help couples whose relationships 'need a little help' to those with more serious challenges and thus are separated or considering divorce.

Our next programme starts next month, February. Running online Thursday 27 February to Sunday 2 March.

Last year (2024) Retrouvaille England and Wales helped over 70 couples bring hope and healing back into their marriage.

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